Kaushambi, Sep 1: A case has been registered against six people following a firecracker factory blast that claimed 11 lives in the Pipri police station area of Uttar Pradesh’s Kaushambi, invoking serious charges including Explosives Act violations, officials said on Tuesday.

Two accused, Shabnam and Saina, were arrested and taken into custody for questioning. The FIR has been registered under sections 105/288 BNS and 4/5/9B of the Explosives Act against the accused.

At least 11 people were killed, and five others were injured after a massive fire triggered a series of explosions at a firecracker factory in Manouri Bazaar under Pipri police station limits of Uttar Pradesh’s Kaushambi district.

Action was also taken against the Pipri SHO and beat constables Jitendra Kumar and Krishna Kumar for their “gross negligence in discharging their official duties and for not registering information related to the operation of the firecracker factory” and “not registering information related to the operation” of the facility.

“It is noteworthy that in view of the seriousness of the incident, the Superintendent of Police prima facie found gross negligence and indifference in discharging their official duties and hence, the Station House Officer Pipri Vikas Singh, Outpost House Officer Chail Sub Inspector Amit Dwivedi and former Outpost House Officer Chail Sub Inspector Manish Pal were placed on line duty with immediate effect,” Kaushambi Police said in a statement.

Officials said that the investigation is ongoing and legal proceedings are underway.

Meanwhile, earlier, the District Magistrate assured strict action against those found responsible for the tragedy. He said criminal cases would be registered under serious sections of the law, and stringent measures, including property attachment, would be initiated in accordance with government directives.

Five injured persons are undergoing treatment at Swaroop Rani Nehru (SRN) Hospital in Prayagraj.

Following the explosions, administrative and police teams cordoned off the area and intensified rescue efforts. Officials fear that more people may still be trapped beneath the debris of the factory and nearby structures that collapsed in the blast. Search and clearance operations are continuing.

Patna, Sep 1: In a major anti-corruption operation, the Vigilance Investigation Bureau arrested Amit Pratap Singh, Block Development Officer (BDO) of Phulidumar block in Banka district, while he was allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 75,000 on Tuesday.

The trap operation was conducted at the BDO’s private residence in Nehru Colony, Banka town.

Following the arrest, the Vigilance team took the BDO and his maternal uncle, Bachchan Prasad Singh, who was present at the residence, to the Banka Circuit House for questioning.

According to the Vigilance Department, Phulidumar Block Pramukh Gautam Prakash had submitted a written complaint to the Vigilance Bureau in Patna.

He alleged that the BDO was demanding Rs 75,000 in exchange for granting administrative approval and facilitating the withdrawal of funds for various development schemes under the Panchayati Raj Department.

Following the complaint, the Vigilance Bureau conducted a preliminary verification of the allegations.

The verification reportedly confirmed the demand for a bribe, following which a trap team was constituted.

A team led by a DSP-rank officer reached the BDO’s residence in Nehru Colony on Tuesday morning and laid a trap.

According to an official, the Block Pramukh handed over the agreed amount of Rs 75,000 to the BDO, following which the Vigilance personnel immediately apprehended him.

The arrest has caused a stir in administrative circles in Banka, from the Phulidumar block office to the district headquarters.

The arrest came a day after the BDO was involved in another controversy.

On Monday, a heated altercation and scuffle reportedly broke out between Amit Pratap Singh and former Mukhiya Sanjeev Mandal over the issuance of a birth certificate.

Following a complaint lodged by the BDO in connection with that incident, police arrested the former Mukhiya and sent him to judicial custody.

The BDO’s arrest in the alleged bribery case the following day has drawn considerable attention in the district.

The Vigilance team is currently completing the necessary legal formalities.

The accused persons are expected to be produced before the Special Vigilance Court in Patna for further proceedings.

Asheville, Sep 1: India strongly supports the US G20 presidency’s focus on economic growth, global imbalances and financial literacy, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has said after holding a “positive, constructive” bilateral meeting with US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.

In an exclusive interview with media on the sidelines of the G20 Finance Ministers’ meeting here, FM Sitharaman said New Delhi and Washington shared common ground on the central issues being discussed under the US presidency.

“The US presidency has spoken about growth as a priority. It has spoken about the global imbalances as a concern,” she said.

“The US has also very clearly placed high importance on financial literacy, which is a very personally dear point for the Secretary of Treasury, Scott Bessent,” the Finance Minister said.

“So in all these, we are very much with the United States,” she added.

FM Sitharaman said India wanted G20 members to have candid discussions about the challenges affecting the international economy.

“These are the points on which we also want fair, open discussions,” she said.

“Growth is a central point for the G20’s financial track. Equally, the imbalances, global imbalances will have to be sorted out,” she said.

The Finance Minister welcomed the priorities identified by Washington and said India was making an active contribution to the deliberations in Asheville.

“I appreciate the US presidency in taking up these points, and we’ve been contributing in the discussions which happened today,” she said.

FM Sitharaman also met Bessent during the day for bilateral talks on economic and financial issues.

“I may also add here that I’ve had a very positive, constructive bilateral discussion with Secretary Bessent today,” she said.

She did not disclose specific details of the meeting in the interview. Her remarks, however, indicated broad agreement between India and the United States on the need to place growth at the centre of the G20 financial track and address imbalances in the global economy.

FM Sitharaman held separate bilateral meetings with representatives of Poland, Qatar, South Korea and Russia during the G20 gathering.

“I’ve had bilaterals also with Poland, with Qatar, with Korea, with Russia. All of them happened today, and on a very positive note,” she said.

“Everyone has had facts about India in their hands, and they’re looking forward to deepening their relationship with India,” she added.

The Finance Minister said some of the discussions would be followed by further bilateral economic engagements. A dialogue with South Korea would be held later this year, she said, adding that a dialogue with Qatar would also take place during the year.

“There are quite a few activities that we’ve tied up for India and the bilateral engagement on economy and finance,” she said.

FM Sitharaman’s participation in the G20 meeting comes as India reported economic growth of 7.8 per cent in the first quarter of the 2026-27 financial year. She said manufacturing had grown by 9.2 per cent, while the financial and professional services sector expanded by 12.1 per cent.

The Finance Minister described the figures as evidence of India’s economic resilience despite continuing global challenges. She said the government would work to position India advantageously whenever new challenges emerged.

FM Sitharaman began her overseas visit in Canada, where she held talks with the Canadian Finance Minister. She then travelled to Chicago for discussions with funding agencies before arriving in Asheville for the G20 meeting.

After completing her engagements here, FM Sitharaman is scheduled to travel to New York, where she will meet investors interested in entering the Indian market.